Eagles clip Cougars

Hedgesville advances to Class AAA, Region II final with win

May 21, 2013

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION - It didn't take Hedgesville long to establish command of the Class AAA Region II semifinal baseball game at Sager Field Monday night.

Upon scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, Hedgesville made an early mistake in the bottom of the first that eventually set up Anthony DiAmario scoring on a Sean Spotts single.

That was the only miscue on a solid night for the?Eagles in a 7-1 victory.

Article Photos

Journal photo by Ron AgnirHedgesville’s Josh Kocher slides into second base in front of Jefferson shortstop Miguel Acosta on a two-run double in the seventh innning of Monday’s Class AAA, Region II semifinal game in Shenandoah Junction. See more photos on CU

Journal Photo by Ron AgnirHedgesville's Cody Butts (21) pitches a comnplete game in a 7-1 victory against Jefferson Monday afternoon in Shenandoah Junction.

Journal Photo by Ron AgnirHedgesville's Cody Hammond (14) gets tagged out by Jefferson catcher Garrett Everton (7) trying to score from second base on a hit for the final out during 3rd Inning action Monday afternoon in Shenandoah Junction.

Journal Photo by Ron AgnirHedgesville baseball players in the dugout playfully cheer with two strikes for a strikeout during 5th Inning action against Jefferson Monday afternoon in Shenandoah Junction.

"Anthony (DiAmario) caught them by surprise with laying down the bunt, and we took advantage of the mistake," Jefferson coach John Lowery said. "That mistake they made was the only one of the night, and we did not have enough offense to respond to their ability to pitch well, play defense and hit the ball throughout the lineup.

"Hedgesville is a solid team with a great chance of winning the state championship."

Following Jefferson cutting the Eagle lead in half, Hedgesville continued to pressure the Cougars, scoring five runs in the remaining innings, including three in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

"We felt like we started off kind of rocky," Hedgesville's Cody Butts said. "We made an error early that was not like us to do, but once we get settled down, we started to crush the ball and play how we play."

Even with the run surrendered in the first inning, Butts helped his own cause on both offense and defense, going 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and pitching a complete game.

He surrendered just one run on three hits.

"Cody had an amazing game," Hedgesville coach Dirk Webb said. "He got ahead of hitters and made them put it in play, and our defense did a great job behind him."

"My defense is great, and I love pitching with these guys behind me," Butts said. "I have a ton of confidence in them, and I feel like nothing is going to go wrong."

Stevie Hite got the Eagles started in the top of the first inning with a single to left. J.W. Wright advanced Hite to third on a double to right before Daniel Heleine hit a groundout to Miguel Acosta to bring in the first run of the evening. Following a balk that put Wright on third and a groundout to second, Troy Markley hit a double to left past a pursuing Paul Witt to bring Wright to the plate and make the score 2-0.

Jefferson responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning, but Hedgesville's offense fought back to take a 4-1 lead after three innings.

In the top of the second, Tyler Anders walked to start the frame. Cameron Jordan hit a single to right before Hite brought Anders to the plate on an RBI groundout to give the Eagles a two-run lead.

Hedgesville stretched the lead out again in the top of the third with a single from Heleine to start the inning. Butts smacked his first double to bring Heleine to third. Heleine scored on a wild pitch.

A pitching change for Jefferson came in the inning as starter Bradley Davis was relieved by Andrew King.

"We gotta give Andrew King credit for what he did against us," Webb said. "He shut us down during the middle innings and did a outstanding job against us."

Following three scoreless innings of work, King ran into trouble in the top of the seventh.

After a pair of groundouts by Hite and Wright to give the Eagles two outs in the inning, Heleine slugged a solo home run to left field for his 15th of the season, adding one more to the school record and making the score 5-1. Markley walked and Butts reached on a Jefferson error before a double to right by Josh Kocher brought Markley and Cody Hammond, who courtesy ran for Butts, around to make the score 7-1.

The Eagles advance to the regional final against the Hampshire Trojans at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Eagle's Nest. Hampshire won the last meeting between them March 22 with a score of 6-4.

The Trojans (25-3) defeated Buckhannon-Upshur 11-1 in six innings.

Josh Crawford got the win, allowing no earned runs on four hits in a complete-game effort.

"Hampshire has a trio of very good arms, and we expect to face very good pitching," Webb said. "We just have to put pressure on them by hitting the ball well."